Vertical gardening is the method of cultivating plants on vertically tending surfaces. The vertical gardening uses techniques of glass house where you replace natural light with artificial lighting. In this garden, the plants are placed on top of each other instead of placing side by side horizontally. Vertical gardens are beneficial in many ways and the biggest advantage is that it save your spaces and accommodate variety of plants in small grow area. It uses small philosophy of multi-store buildings where you can fit many things in limited space available.

Systems: There are many hydroponic systems available but most of them are not useful for vertical hydroponic gardening. Such as Ebb & Flow and Water Culture system cannot be optimized for vertical hydroponic garden. This system requires plants roots to be in contact with the liquid relentlessly and the roots need to be flooded cyclically. You can use Drip systems and Aeroponics system for vertical hydroponic system. If you plan to use nutrient film technique system, your garden needs to be position slightly so that the nutrient solution passes down the base and roots. Vertical garden can be arranged and designed in two ways viz. the growth vessels can be mounted on top of one another forming a tiny openings at the containers corners within which plants can be planted. In other hand, you can insert the plants in the holes of containers.

Drip systems are most suitable for the vertical gardens through which dripper can be mounted at the base that provides constant nutrients supply. After the hydroponics nutrients pass through the containers, it would bypass to a central reservoir and pump back for recirculation. In aeroponic system, the nutrients are sprayed at regular intervals inside the vessels or into the reservoir with a single spray at the top of the vessel. You should spray horizontally to enlarge the spraying area and spray at a regular interval to ensure that all plants are sprayed. You can position and shift your plant at any location within the containers; this will increase the yield of your garden. After spraying, the nutrient passes through the base of the vessel and a collection tube in which the fluid reaches the nutrient reservoirs for reuse.

Requirements: Vertical hydroponic garden are quite similar to horizontal gardening. For vertical gardening, you need vessels or containers to grow plants, PVC pipes, nutrient solution, reservoir, drippers if plan to use drip systems or sprayers if plan to use aeroponic systems, a pump and fluid lines. Due to the increased height unlike the horizontal gardens, they require pumps to deliver hydroponics nutrients to the apex with sufficient pressure for nutrients to be sprayed on plants. While purchasing a pump, make sure to check the pressure of the pump generates at a maximum height. You can start for indoor vertical garden through using indoor lighting such as smaller lights or foil that reflects light.

Vertical hydroponics is an intelligent answer to gardeners with limited space and those who wanted to maximize their produce. Vertical gardens are mostly suited for green leafy vegetables plants like green lettuce and herbs. You can start your vertical hydroponic gardens at walls, balconies, fences or in small yards.